Bistro 88 in Westlake Closes After Long Run

This is quite a story. In a little strip mall off Mopac on Bee Caves Road, in the same building that housed the original Chinatown, Bistro 88 was founded 20 years ago by master chef Jeff Liu. The food was a compelling fusion of European and Asian and they made my Top 20 on several occasions. But then Liu branched out, opening a second Bistro 88 in south Austin along with a neat little spot downtown on W. 5th (now ironically Chinatown Downtown) called Noodleism.

The south location was not a success and soon closed. Noodleism, which was a terrific concept, unfortunately followed leaving Liu with just the original Bee Caves Rd restaurant.

Financially strapped after the closings of the other stores, Liu limped along but was finally forced to close last week. And the curse of Westlake continues to manifest itself on quality restaurants. I had many a wonderful meal there, a terrific Gonzo Gourmet dinner, and Bistro 88 was our “go to” spot for most of the years we spent in Westlake. And what the hell is wrong with the good people of Westlake for not supporting this little gem? Yes Liu could be a bit mercurial at times, but this was one hell of a restaurant. It will be truly missed!